Genetic bases of evolution

The EU is organized into five main themes:

Topic 1: Genetic mapping and recombination. Concepts of molecular biology related to gene expression, DNA repair, and epigenetic processes.

Theme 2: Introduction to molecular evolution: Measuring the intensity of selection in genetic divergence. Molecular clock and variation in rates of evolution created by the action of natural selection. Neutral theory of evolution.

Theme 3: Introduction to genomics: composition and size of genomes. Importance of repeated elements. Concept of genetic linkage and local selection effects. Influence of demography.

Theme 4: Molecular tools for biodiversity: Barcoding, eDNA, metabarcoding. Molecular taxonomy. Limitations related to hybridization. Applications in conservation.

Theme 5: Extranuclear heredity . Symbiosis, parasitism, and co-evolution (intracellular: e.g., Wolbachia). Extended concept of phenotype.

- Mendelian inheritance (covered in L1) Dominance, polyallelism, pleiotropy, interactions between genes.

- Structure and Expression of DNA (covered in L2)

The practical sessions will be computer-based. The aim of the course unit is also to provide an introduction to genetic data analysis (bioinformatics) using software and programming basics (loops, tests) using the R language, which has the advantage of being used in other course units (particularly in statistics).

-Understand the mechanisms and processes that drive biodiversity (K1)

-Know the tools for describing biodiversity from genes to the biosphere (K4)

-Know and be able to implement the various approaches and tools used in evolutionary biology and ecology: observation, sampling, experimentation, and statistical analysis (K6)

-Understand the process of knowledge formation in different disciplines (hypotheses, experimental results, controversial findings, mathematical theorems, scientific facts) (L1)

-Know how to use concepts and tools from different disciplines to analyze a document, an observation, or the results of an experiment (L3)

-Know how to give an oral presentation and write a scientific report, using illustrations and a presentation tailored to the audience, with the help of appropriate IT tools (L6)